What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a type of development that complements counseling and coaching. It occurs when a person of greater experience guides another person, especially in career matters. The person of lesser experience is often the one who seeks the voluntary relationship.
Explore the interaction to learn more about when to mentor (timing), who’s involved (actors), and the purpose of the interaction (objective).
Timing
Mentoring looks at the Soldier’s future and at potential. It is a process that the mentor and mentee join by their own volition.
Actors
- Mentoring should occur outside of the chain of command.
- Age or seniority is not a prerequisite for providing mentoring.
- Mentoring relationships tend to be occupation-specific, meaning a mentor typically specializes in the same area as the person being mentored.
Objective
Mentoring focuses on developing the capabilities and competencies required for job growth and advancement.